SC Petition of Thomas Shoemaker re: Scipio, 1760
The Colonial Records of South Carolina
Tuesday the 19th Day of February 1760.
"... A Petition of Thomas Shoemaker setting forth, That the Petitioner had a very valuable Negro Man, named Scipio, who, on the 29th June 1759, as he was returning on an Errand, unfortunately met with a Negro Man, named Sandy (a vile Offender), belonging to Thomas Bradwell; who Scipio knowing to be run away, endeavoured to persuade to return home, but intreaty failing, and believing it his duty to apprehend so great a Villain, he had recourse to Violence, and after some Blows had passed on both sides, the said Sandy seemed to submit, but, stooping down, as if to adjust something about his Boot, drew a long Knife, stabbed Scipio in the Belly, and cut one of his Guts half off, of which Wound he died. That, on the 9th July following the said Sandy was convicted of murdering the said Scipio and was executed; being first valued at Two hundred Pounds, one half whereof is ordered to be paid to the Petitioner, which Sum being three hundred Pounds less than the said Scipio's intrinsic worth, and for as much as the Petitioner has no other Remedy for his great Loss, but by applying to this House:
Therefore praying the House to consider his Case and to grant such Relief therein as [to] the House shall seem meet and reasonable...."
Source:
The Colonial Records of South Carolina=20
The Journal of the Commons House of Assembly
October 6, 1757=96January 24, 1761
Terry W. Lipscomb, Editor
Published by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 51-62239 ISBN: 1-880067-28-5
Contributed by: spice3@juno.com "Susan S. Buckley"